‘This City Is Ours’ Renewed for Season 2: Everything We Know About the Future of the Phelan Family Empire

By Entertainment Desk December 29, 2025

Fans of the gritty Liverpool crime saga This City Is Ours – often dubbed the “Scouse Sopranos” – have reason to celebrate as the BBC confirmed a second season back in May 2025, timed perfectly with the explosive finale of the debut run.

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This City Is Ours – launch date and trailer released for epic new …

Promotional image for ‘This City Is Ours’ featuring key cast members.

The series, starring James Nelson-Joyce as loyal enforcer Michael Kavanagh and Sean Bean as formidable gang boss Ronnie Phelan, follows a longtime member of organized crime who falls deeply in love, prompting him to dream of a life beyond the dangerous underworld. With over 6.6 million viewers tuning in per episode – making it the BBC’s most-watched new drama launch of 2025 – the show amassed a massive fanbase through its raw portrayal of gangland power struggles, fractured loyalties, and heartfelt romance.

Created by Stephen Butchard and produced by Left Bank Pictures (known for The Crown), the eight-episode first season premiered on BBC One and iPlayer in March 2025, blending tense drama with authentic Scouse dialogue and complex characters that hooked audiences instantly.

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Sean Bean as gang leader in first look at new crime drama This …

Sean Bean as Ronnie Phelan in a gripping scene from the series.

The renewal announcement came on May 11, 2025, the day of the season one finale on BBC One. Executive producer Sian McWilliams expressed delight: “We are so delighted to be diving back into Stephen Butchard’s brilliant underworld of Liverpool crime with our wonderful collaborators at the BBC. It’s been a joy to watch audiences fall in love with these fantastically complex characters. After the tumultuous events of the season one finale, the gang rivalries and betrayals have escalated to new levels, new ones have just begun, and there is a lot of unfinished business!”

With such a devoted following questioning the fate of the Phelan family, here’s everything we know so far about season 2.

Release Date: No official premiere has been set, but with filming commencing in October 2025, speculation points to a return in early summer or autumn 2026 – roughly 12-18 months after the first season’s debut.

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This City is Ours: James Nelson-Joyce on the ‘Scouse Sopranos’

James Nelson-Joyce as Michael Kavanagh, the heart of the story.

https://youtu.be/9irsgS7DEUIV

Cast Updates: Returning stars include James Nelson-Joyce as Michael Kavanagh, Hannah Onslow as his partner Diana Williams, Jack McMullen as volatile Jamie Phelan, Mike Noble as Banksey, Julie Graham as widowed matriarch Elaine Phelan, and Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford. Additional returnees: Adam Abbou, Laura Aikman, Kevin Harvey, and Darci Shaw.

Exciting new additions bring fresh threats: Shaun Evans (Endeavour) as Ozzie Thompson, a former gangster recently released from prison, and Álvaro Morte (Money Heist) as Felipe Guzman, a vengeful Colombian cartel member and brother to a key figure killed in season one.

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Alvaro Morte & Shaun Evans Board BBC’s ‘This City Is Ours’ Season 2

Shaun Evans and Álvaro Morte join the cast for season 2.

Sean Bean’s Ronnie Phelan met a dramatic end early in season one, but lead star Nelson-Joyce has hinted at pushing for flashback sequences to bring Bean back.

Plot Teasers: Season 2 picks up directly from the cliffhanger, with Michael and Diana dragged back from Spain amid questions over a major death. Tensions boil in Liverpool as remaining gang members navigate escalating rivalries, new betrayals, and the intrusion of international forces like the Colombian cartel. Expect more high-stakes power plays, forbidden love, and moral dilemmas in Butchard’s signature style.

Filming and Production: Shooting is underway in Liverpool and Spain, directed by returning Saul Dibb and newcomer Chris Baugh. International distribution handled by Sony Pictures Television.

As fans eagerly await more from this breakout hit, one thing’s clear: the Phelan family’s unfinished business promises even darker, more addictive drama ahead.

All episodes of season one available now on BBC iPlayer.

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BBC announces casting for This City Is Ours (w/t), an epic new …

Ensemble cast promotional shot highlighting the intense family dynamics.